By Lalit Garg
Holi is not only a religious but a cultural festival; this festival is a unique opportunity to share happiness, love, and positivity. The biggest quality of our culture is that all the festivals celebrated here enhance the love, unity, and goodwill among the people by establishing human qualities in the society. The spirit behind all the festivals celebrated here is to provide prosperity to human dignity. Holi has a special message that just as nature is full of colors, life should also be full of colors. Holi is a perfect festival in terms of purity associated with any festival. It is a unique festival which not only associates the body, but also the soul. Holi is a festival of happiness. The happiness in us is also the color of our soul.
In fact, Holi is the festival of fun and laughter. The most famous story about this festival is also in relation to Prahlada and Holika. Naradapurana states that Prahlada, the son of a demon named Hiranyakashipu, was an exclusive Hari-bhakta, while Hiranyakashipu considered Narayana to be his ultimate enemy. There was also a severe punishment system for chanting the name of Narayana or Srihari in his kingdom. Seeing his son as a Hari-bhakta, he warned many times, but a supreme devotee like Prahlada was always absorbed in piety. His father tried to kill him several times by taking various measures, but he survived every time by the grace of Narayana.
Holika, sister of Hiranyakashipu, had the boon of not burning in the fire. So she entered the fire with her nephew Prahlad in her lap. But by the grace of God, Prahlada came out alive and Holika was burned. The festival of Holi signifies 'victory of truth over untruth and 'victory of virtue over misconduct'. In this way, the festival of Holi also symbolizes the victory of truth, justice, devotion and faith and the destruction of injustice, sin and demonic practices.
Holi is a festival that breaks all our limits and unites us. That is why we apply color on each other and say, "may your life also be full of colors". Apart from the euphoria of colors, there are many other mythological stories to celebrate the festival of Holi. In North East India, Holika Dahan is celebrated as Putna Daah - the slaughter day of demon Putna by Lord Krishna. In South India, it is believed that on this day Lord Shiva consumed the third eye shell of Kamadeva and he danced the ashes on his body. Thereafter, Lord Shiva revived Kamadeva, being moved by the grief of his wife Rati, which pleased the gods and showered them with colors. For this reason, on the eve of Holi, fire is ignited in South India and sugarcane, mango blossom, and sandalwood are added to it. Here, sugarcane symbolizes the bow of Cupid, mango blossom of Cupid, the burning of Cupid by the burning fire of Lord Shiva and the chanting of sandalwood to calm Kamadeva for burning with fire.
An artwork showing Lord Krishna playing Holi with Radha and friends. (Photo courtesy of the author)
Many cultural and public-related programs are held to celebrate Holi. The events of Holi in metropolitan culture have given the festival a new zeal and enthusiasm. In these events, there are cultural programs to play songs in a very polite manner. People get excited about Ghoomar, a Rajasthani event associated with Holi. Delicious food items with sandalwood tilak and refresher drinks give this festival a dignified image. Ghoomar, dandiya dance and singing troupes from different regions enhance their fun and joy as the night progresses through their performances. Today, due to pollution, the entire environment has become affected; all the colors of life have fallen. There is no mutual trust, no mutual love, not even a sublime feeling of cooperation, or the tone of unity. No one holds hands in the crowd. Like this, the divided mind stands alone in the hope of finding everything again. How false is this wait. Let us also bring together the countless possibilities of the future and create a conscious atmosphere again. Beginning this year, let's pledge to fill the color of truth in the festival. Holi requires an atmosphere and a mind too; a mind where we are all one, and uproot the filthy layers of the mind so that all the faces reflected in the mirror of the undivided mind can be felt by us.
In Mathura and Vrindavan, the grand hues of Holi are seen. With the arrival of Basantotsav, the atmosphere in Vrindavan is filled with fun and frolic. The festival of spring is also celebrated with great pomp here. The joy of this festival does not slow down even when it starts in the month of Phalgun. The traditions of Phalgun month and Holi are related to the pastimes of Lord Krishna and have special significance in the devotee's heart. Celebrating the colorful and joyous festival of Holi with full devotion to Lord Krishna is a unique experience. Phalgun Shukla Ekadashi has special significance in the city of temples, Vrindavan. On this day, playing Holi starts in the traditional form. Both the fun and devotion of Holi in temples spreads its unique beauty.
In order to paint themselves in the color of this divine month and Holi, devotees come to Vrindavan from far off places and celebrate Holi with full enthusiasm. The environment of Vrindavan is filled with devotional vibes. The special heart-touching dance of the group of Lord Krishna devotees is very attractive as soon as it is made in the holy land of Vrindavan. There is no kind of worry, and no malice, only a pleasant atmosphere prevails.
The word Holi means purity in the English language. Purity is useful to every person, and if the heritage of purity is associated with this festival, then the importance of this festival becomes a hundred per cent. The question is, how permanent is this happiness, which becomes a passion in the days of Holi? The melodic sound of dhapli (drums) and the dandiya raas chimes limited the usefulness of a festival like Holi to what can only be called instantaneous happiness, while expecting this tradition of colors to provide long-term. Such a bond of affection and respect, of love, of friendship and harmony should be tied on which a person can be inspired to do something new. Celebration is the nature of consciousness and the celebration that emanates from silence is real. Holi is a celebration of consciousness. The more one feels joyful, the more colors are filled in their life.
In a festival like Holi, all kinds of distractions should be erased. It should be felt that in the fire of Holi, all our sufferings, sorrows, worries, animosity, etc, should be ignited and the color of happiness, cheerfulness, and joy in life should be scattered. We should have made some resolutions, and it can be resolved that we live a peaceful life and wish for a peaceful life for all. Such a resolution and such a life can make Holi meaningful.
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The writer is a senior journalist based in Delhi.
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The views expressed are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times
